UK forces training to counter ISIS attack on Euro 2016: Report

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Jun 05 2016 | 6:42 PM IST
British special forces have launched a multi-national counter-terrorist operation as it emerged that Islamic State (ISIS) militants are planning "a summer of carnage" in London and other cities during the Euro 2016 football championship, according to a media report today.
Operation Storm Tide 3 took place at Ostend in Belgium, ahead of the UEFA football tournament that kicks off on Friday in Paris,'Sunday Express' reported.
"This exercise was focused on preparing and rehearsing our response to an attack in respect of the pending Euro championships. The Euro 2016 games have been flagged up as potential targets for Islamic State," a military source told the newspaper.
A ministry of defence (MoD) spokesperson said the operation was "tailored to take into account recent events in Paris and Brussels".
Soldiers from 40 Commando and troops and special forces from Belgium and Holland stormed a shopping centre and "eliminated" a group of soldiers playing the part of extremists threatening to blow up the building as part of the training exercises.
Planned by Nato and approved by UK defence secretary Michael Fallon, the operation involving more than 800 troops is one of several set to take place across Europe this summer.
Intelligence chiefs fear militants are planning "a summer of carnage" after retrieving data from the laptops and mobile phones of terror suspects Mohamed Abrini and Salah Abdeslam.
Abrini is believed to be the "man in the hat" linked to the Brussels bombings in March which killed 32 people.
He and Abdeslam are accused of being involved in last year's Paris atrocity, in which 130 people died.
American intelligence believes Paris, Cologne and Moscow could be targeted during the tournament. They fear an attack on London is being primed to coincide with an England game.
The news comes after the US warned its citizens on Tuesday of possible terrorist attacks in Europe.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 05 2016 | 6:42 PM IST

Next Story